Contradiction with Matthew 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." - This verse suggests purity of heart results in seeing God, contrasting with Acts 28:27's theme of closed eyes and lack of understanding.
Matthew 5:8: Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Contradiction with 2 Corinthians 3:16
"Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away." - This verse indicates that turning to the Lord leads to clarity and understanding, contradicting the hard-heartedness in Acts 28:27.
2 Corinthians 3:16: Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
Contradiction with Psalm 119:18
"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." - This plea for enlightened eyes opposes the concept of closed eyes mentioned in Acts 28:27.
Psalm 119:18: Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. [Open: Heb. Reveal]
Contradiction with Matthew 13:16
"But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear." - This verse emphasizes blessedness in seeing and hearing, contrary to the unseeing and unhearing state described in Acts 28:27.
Matthew 13:16: But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Contradiction with Ezekiel 12:2
"Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not." - Though it describes a similar problem, the context of deliberate rebellion offers a different contrast to the warning nature in Acts 28:27.
Ezekiel 12:2: Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they [are] a rebellious house.
Contradiction with Isaiah 35:5
"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped." - This prophecy about healing and restoration through divine intervention contradicts the stubborn unresponsiveness in Acts 28:27.
Isaiah 35:5: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Contradiction with John 9:39
"And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." - This speaks to a reversal from blindness to sight through Jesus, differing from the persistent blindness in Acts 28:27.
John 9:39: And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Paradox #1
Acts 28:27 mentions people's hearts being hardened, their ears dull, and their eyes closed, which can be seen as a theological inconsistency with the idea that God's message is for everyone to understand and accept. If God wants everyone to be saved, some might wonder why He would let people's hearts become hardened. This could seem like a contradiction between divine will and human free will.
Paradox #2
The potential contradiction or inconsistency with Acts 28:27 could be related to its use of language and its reference to people's perception and understanding. The verse broadly speaks to a group's closed-mindedness and stubbornness in accepting a message, which could be seen as inconsistent with historical accounts of the diverse reactions to new teachings in the period described. There may be a conflict between this biblical portrayal and historical evidence showing varied openness and engagement with new ideas among different communities.
Paradox #3
The potential contradiction or conflict in that verse could be seen in how it suggests that people's hearts have been hardened and that they cannot understand or turn back to God. This raises questions about free will and personal responsibility, as it implies that some people are unable to choose to believe or change due to circumstances beyond their control. It might seem inconsistent with the idea that everyone has the opportunity to choose their own path and be accountable for their actions.